<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Dear East Valley,<div><br></div><div>I thought this would be some good information to pass along. I know we do not live in any of these cities. However, if you know anyone or if you will be happening to be visiting these areas, check out the AIRA trial at Starbucks.<br><br><div dir="ltr">Sincerely,<div>Megan Homrighausen</div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Ronza Othman via Chapter-Presidents <chapter-presidents@nfbnet.org><br><b>Date:</b> October 23, 2020 at 12:11:41 PM MST<br><b>To:</b> State Affiliate Leadership List <state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org>, NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list <chapter-presidents@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Ronza Othman <rothmanjd@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Chapter-Presidents] Aira at Starbucks - Trial Period</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> NFB Chapter Presidents discussion list <chapter-presidents@nfbnet.org><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-2022-jp"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">I’ve been asked to share the below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Have You Tried Aira at Starbucks? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Aira Test Underway in Stores in Baltimore, </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">as well as <span style="color:black">Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Seattle, and Washington DC<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Available Through mid-January 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Coffee anyone? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Aira is <span class="bumpedfont20">pleased to announce a test program with Starbucks. And, we would love to know about your experience, and see your Starbucks selfies. For social media use </span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">#OnMyTerms @Starbucks @airaio. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Individuals who are blind or low vision can use the Aira service for assistance at Starbucks stores through mid-January 2021 in the following cities: </span><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Seattle, and Washington DC. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">More information is available at </span></span><a href="http://www.aira.io/Starbucks"><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none">www.Aira.io/Starbucks</span></span></a><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC">,</span></span><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> including </span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">the full list of covered locations. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span class="bumpedfont20"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">You will also find information about participating locations in the Aira app.</span></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">If you’ve always wanted to try Aira, this is a great way to test the service and have that iconic Starbucks experience. If you’re already an Aira Explorer, thank you, and take advantage of this offer to enhance your use of Aira. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We are thrilled that Starbucks is taking this step to support blind customers as we all adjust to the current challenges. So, we encourage everyone to navigate to your local Starbucks with an Aira Agent. Maybe even incorporate it into a mobility lesson. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="s16" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span class="bumpedfont15"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Aira can be used while at a Starbucks for up to 30 minutes for assistance with tasks, including:</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="s16" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> <span class="s4"><span style="background:white">● </span></span><span class="bumpedfont15">Reading in-store information</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:-13.5pt"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">● </span></span><span class="bumpedfont15"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Finding amenities such as the order counter or table</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:-13.5pt"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">● </span></span><span class="bumpedfont15"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Social Distancing in the line</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:-13.5pt"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">● </span></span><span class="bumpedfont15"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Finding the Starbucks itself</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:-13.5pt"><span class="s4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">● </span></span><span class="bumpedfont15"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">And more.</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Don’t forget, your Aira Agent can also get that perfect Starbucks Selfie for sharing on social media. Our customers have made the hash tag #OnMyTerms synonymous with Aira so feel free to use it when tagging. Social media handles, @Starbucks and @airaio, can also be used. <br>And, remember, you can always use your free five-minute call to plan your trip before you go.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">To take advantage of this offer, all you need is a smartphone and the Aira app which is free from the Apple App or Google Play stores. Then, if you are not already an Aira Explorer, you will just need to set up a free account and you can use Aira Access locations for free just like Aira Explorers do. <span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">If you have any questions, please email Paul Schroeder at </span></i><a href="mailto:Paul@Aira.io"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Paul@Aira.io</span></i></a><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">.</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></div></body></html>